FAMILY and friends of a man who killed himself last year gathered together to pay a poignant tribute.

Former Worcester resident Anthony Taylor died when his car plunged into the river Avon on Boat Lane in Evesham last year.

His sister Kayleigh, 21, came up with the idea to pay tribute to her brother on what would have been his 23rd birthday.

People who attended the emotional occasion on October 9 sent messages to Mr Taylor by releasing balloons which floated towards heaven.

Miss Taylor said: "It was his birthday and it was our first year without him.

"He is meant to be 23, but he'll always be 22.

"The idea just came into my head one night and my mum liked it.

"We got a load of cards that have got his picture on and we tied them to the balloons so it's as if we were sending a message to him on his birthday."

Mr Taylor attended Worcester's former Elgar Technology College and lived in Cleeve Drive, Warndon.

However, he had moved to Bromsgrove just before his death.

The past 11 months since Mr Taylor passed away have been a challenge for the family, Miss Taylor admitted.

However, they are trying to remember him when he was at his happiest.

"It's very hard for me and my mum," she said.

"I'm trying to be supportive while looking after my daughter.

"We're trying to remember all the good times and not the bad."

Mr Taylor was found by police officers in a car in the river Avon after he had been missing for three days.

Miss Taylor was pregnant when her brother died and was the last person he spoke to before his death.

Last year, his friend Dani Le, a former Worcester bus driver, said Mr Taylor was "an absolutely amazing young man who always had a smile on his face and not a bad word to say about anyone".

“Loved by everyone that met you, you will leave a huge mark on the lives of many.

"You were a true friend and somebody I will miss very dearly.”